03/23/2015 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

          SB 23-IMMUNITY FOR PROVIDING OPIOID OD DRUG                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:44:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration  of SB 23. He said that                                                               
SB 23 is an Act  relating to immunity for proscribing, providing,                                                               
and administering opioid overdose drugs.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS  related that the  Department of Law will  speak to                                                               
concerns related to  criminal liability. He noted the  bill has a                                                               
referral to the Senate Judiciary Committee.                                                                                     
Senator Ellis  explained that SB  23 provides a relief  for civil                                                               
liability for  those who would administer  the overdose reversing                                                               
drug,  naloxone.  Twenty-nine  other states  have  similar  laws.                                                               
There is  no known opposition  to the  bill. The bill  deals with                                                               
relief from  civil liability  in overdose  life-saving situations                                                               
for doctors,  family members, and  friends, rather  than criminal                                                               
liability relief.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:47:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STOLTZE asked for  clarification about criminal liability                                                               
and mitigating factors.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
RICK  SVOBODNY,  Deputy   Attorney  General,  Criminal  Division,                                                               
Department  of  Law, answered  questions  related  to SB  23.  He                                                               
explained that  SB 23 does  not deal with sentencing  in criminal                                                               
cases related  to mitigating factors  and the bill has  no effect                                                               
on  criminal  liability.  Police   officers,  EMT's,  and  family                                                               
members who are given or who administer the drugs are protected.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STOLTZE asked  what happens to the person  who might have                                                               
caused the overdose.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SVOBODNY said  there was  a bill  last year  about emergency                                                               
responders.  It  was  entirely different  and  does  not  relieve                                                               
people of the consequences of dealing drugs.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:51:50 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STOLTZE asked if the administration supports the bill.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. SVOBODNY  said yes. The  Department of Corrections  thinks it                                                               
will be helpful to them, also.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:52:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  ELLIS  moved  to  report   SB  23  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations  and attached zero fiscal  note. There                                                               
being no objection, the motion carried.